Grapple.



v P. E. MCCAULEY.

GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 16, i915.

Patented Sept. 12,1916.

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- GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1916.

` 1 1 97,751 Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

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'UNITED STATES PETER E. IVIGCAULEY, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GRAPLLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application led March 16, 1916. Serial No. 84,726.

To all fr0/tom 'it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, PETER E. MGCAULEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGrapples; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to grapples, especially adapted for use in handlingmetal barrels or casks: and, to this end, generally stated, theinvention consists of the novel devices and combinations of deviceshereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of a metalbarrel to which is applied the improved grapple; Fig. 2 is a view partlyin side elevation and partly in section, taken on the line .r2 0:2offFig. l; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the grapple and bung removedfrom the barrel, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofthe grapple; and Fig. 5 is a detail view in section, taken on the linex5 m5 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale.

The numeral l indicates a metal barrel having in one of its heads, atdiametrically opposite points, a. relatively large bung 2 and arelatively small bung 3. These bungs, as shown, are in the form of screwplugs having hexagon heads to which a wrench may be applied in securingthe bungs to the barrel or removing the same therefrom. Hard rubbergaskets 4 are interposed between the heads of the bungs 2 and 3 and thebarrel to prevent leakage. The central portion of the head of thebarrel, between the bungs 2 and 3, is depressed. The barrel shown is ofwell known standard form and it will be noted that the chime thereof issmooth, affording no means whatsoever for a hand hold in lifting thebarrel. Many accidents have occurred, while lifting metal barrels ofthis type, for the reason that they are hard to hold and are liable toslip, particularly oil barrels.

The improved grapple is formed from a single piece of fiat metal andcomprises a body 5, foot G, and a crotch 7, arranged to stradd'leeitherpof the bungs 2 and 3. The

-foot G is formed by bending one end of the body 5 laterally and thenoutward into a plane parallel with said body. The crotch 7 is formed bysplitting the other end of the body and spreading the bungs thereof.This end of the body 5 is bent laterally and then upon itself with thecrotch 7 diverging in a plane that'ris odset from but approximatelyparallel to the plane of the body 5, but considerably closer theretothan the foot G. The purpose of locating the foot 6 at a greaterdistance from the body 5 is that it engages the head of the barrelwithin the depression formed therein, as best shown in Fig. 2. A handhold 8 is rigidly secured to the body 5 on the opposite side from thefoot 6 and crotch 7. It is important to note that the inner longitudinaledges of the crotch 7 are relatively sharp, as best shown in Fig. 5.

In lifting or otherwise handling a barrel, the improved grapple isapplied, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the crotch 7 straddling thegasket t of the large bung 2 and the foot 6 bearing on the centraldepressed portion of the barrel head. Vith the improved grapple thusapplied, the gasket straddled by the crotch 7, is compressed and theprongs of the crotch are drawn between the head of the respective bungand the barrel, thus affording a secure hold on the barrel, withoutdanger of slippage or displacement therefrom. Obviously, the crotch 7will straddle bungs of various different sizes.

The above described invention, while eX- tremely simple and of smallcost, has, in actual usage, proven highly efficient for the purpose hadin view. Y'

That I claim is l. A. grapple of the kind described co1nprising a bodymember having a laterally offset portion with a crotch arranged tostraddle the bung of the barrel, said crotch diverging in a plane thatis offset from but approrimately parallel to the p=lane of said bodymember. v s

2. A grapple of the kind describedcomprising a body member having alaterally offset portion with a crotch arranged to straddle the bung ofthe barrel, said crotch diverging in a plane that is offset from butapproximately parallel to the plane of said body member, and a hand holdon said body member.

3. A grapple of the kind described comprising a body member having alaterally oiiiset portion with a crotch arranged to straddle the bung ofthe barrel, said Crotch diverging in a plane that is oset from butapproximately parallel to the plane of said body member, said bodymember having at its other end a barrel-engaging foot.

4. A grapple of the kind described Comprising a body member having alaterally offset portion with a crotch arranged to straddle the bung ofthe barrel, said Crotch diverging in a plane that is offset from butapproximately parallel to the plane of said body member, said bodymember having at its other end a barrel-engaging foot, and a hand holdon said body member at the intermediate portion thereof.

5. A grapple of the kind described comprising a body member having alaterally oifset portion with a crotch arranged to straddle the bung ofthe barrel, said Crotch diverging in a plane that is offset rombutapproximately parallel to the plane of said body member, thelongitudinal edges of the eroteh being relatively sharp.

ln testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER E. MGCAULEY.

litnesses: f

OSCAR O. STRAND, ALoNzo CUNNINGHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, i Washington, D. C.

